We bring you the names of the ten most sought-after top-flight stars whose deals run out in June 2014 and so will be available on lucrative free transfers next summer …
Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)
The classy Serbia international and Red Devils skipper may be 32 by now and more than a bit injury prone, however, the experienced centre back still has one more three-year contract left in him for any potential suitors who may be willing to take the risk on his wonky knee, and you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be a plethora of clubs waiting to snap him up come next summer.
Bacary Sagna (Arsenal)
Rival clubs will be queuing round the block to win the highly rated Frenchman’s signature next June, especially considering the eye-catching campaign that the 30-year-old is currently having on the right-hand side of the north London club’s back four so far in this season, with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, AS Monaco and Galatasaray have all recently been linked with the attacking full back.
Joleon Lescott (Manchester City)
Now just a bit-part player at the mega-rich north-west outfit following manager Manuel Pellegrini’s appointment to succeed previous coach Roberto Mancini at Eastlands last summer, with the Chilean even preferring to utilise midfield player Javi Garcia as a makeshift central defender at the back of late instead of the England international.
But Lescott is only 31 years old and can still do a job for a top-level club should they be willing to take a risk on him next season.
Younes Kaboul (Tottenham Hotspur)
Another central defender who is currently out of favour at his club, with the 27-year-old having been warming the substitutes’ bench at White Hart Lane all campaign long under Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas, and with that situation unlikely to change much between now and the end of this season, expect a whole range of big-name clubs to be breaking the door down in north London next summer to sign the versatile Frenchman.
Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland)
Some clever and quick-thinking Premier League club will land the highly rated and technically accomplished Sweden international at the end of this season, with the 28-year-old certain to be leaving the Stadium of Light even if new Sunderland boss Gustavo Poyet does somehow manage to keep the struggling Black Cats in the top flight, and what a fine addition the vastly under-rated playmaker would be to any side’s midfield.
Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham)
It is not an exaggeration to say that some of Europe’s biggest clubs will be forming a queue outside Craven Cottage next June in order to persuade the mercurial, but still at times world-class, Bulgaria international to sign for them next season, and aged just 32, the the front man still has one last hurrah left, just not with the relegation-threatened Cottagers though.
Johnny Heitinga (Everton)
Currently out of favour at Goodison Park under new Toffees head coach Roberto Martinez, with the Spaniard instead preferring to go with Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin at the heart of the Everton defence, however, the hugely experienced Netherlands international still has a lot to offer at the age of only 29 for some lucky suitor next summer.
And do not forget either that this is a defender who played for the Oranje in the final of the 2010 World Cup against Spain in Johannesburg.
Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
There would probably be a couple of takers at the end of the season for a player who has won just the five Premier League titles, as well as the League Cup, Uefa Champions League and the Fifa Club World Cup in a glittering seven-year career at Old Trafford, while the 32-year-old midfield player has also been capped on 31 occasions by his country.
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
The Chelsea veteran may now be 35 years old, however, you would not have guessed from the England international’s ever-consistent displays in the centre of the park for the west London club so far in this campaign, and with a club-record 205 goals to his name while at Stamford Bridge, you can guarantee that most of the Premier League, as well as the Continent, will be trying to persuade the player to join them come the end of the season.
Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion)
The Baggies’ new goalscoring hero has really come to prominence for Steve Clarke’s high-flying team so far in this campaign, especially after the 20-year-old’s stunning solo goal that saw off champions Manchester United in the Premier League at Old Trafford recently.
However, with the England Under-21 international still to agree a new deal with the west Midlands outfit and the likes of top-flight giants Arsenal and Everton both reportedly keen to land the attacker on a lucrative free transfer come the end of this current season, expect there to be a stampede for the starlet’s signature come next summer.